Piano-truck



Mmm y J 1* BARROWS Y PIANO TRUCK.' 116.322,150. Patented Ju1y 14, 1885.

NV PETERS, Phutvulwgnphlr, Wllhlnglun, D. C.

, er, K. Inside each inner strip is a series of `NITED STATES J. FRANK BARROS, OF

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,150, dated July 14, 1885, Application filed September 5, 1884. (No molli-11..)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. FRANK BARROWS, ot'- Springeld, in the county of Sangamon, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iiano- Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part ot' thislspecication.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in piano-trucks,and is designed,object ively,to produce a device whereby a piano or other heavy article may be readily loaded on a dray for transportation, or may be transferred therefrom into a'house or up a iiight of stairs.

The truck proper and the track on which it travels are simple in construction and operation, and also compact. Y

In describing the device,refercnce is had to the annexed drawings, in which Figure l represents a longitudinal section through the device, Fig. 2, a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a side View showing the locking-braces in position.

A platform, A, of proper size is provided at one end with an upright frame,B, which carries at its upper end adrum,G,provided with a crank, D, and ratchet E, and at its lower end a roller, F. The drum C carries the rope or cable G, by which the device is'operated, as hereinafter set forth. This is the preferable mode oi' operation; but leversmay be used instead of the crank, or the roller F may be used as a drum and operated by levers. The under side of the platform of the truck is provided on cach side with two (more or less) large rollers, H, pivoted between longitudinal strips I. At each end is asrnaller rollrollers, L, each flanged. A track is formed of two or more pieces,M, joined by proper braces and having on their upper or bearing sides longitudinal projections N, on which rest the rollers L, the anges resting against the edges of the said projections and guiding the truck on the track. When not in use the track is slid between the strips I, the projections N passing between the rollers L and the platposition.

form A. One end oi the track is beveled, as

shown at O, to accommodate it to the slant at which it is used in operation, and the other end has hinged to it a short section, ]?,of similar construction to the main body of the track. The section I? is beveled at its conjunction with the track proper, and is provided with thumb or set screws R, whichpass through slots in strips S pivoted to the end ot' the track. This allows the section to be secured at any angle, so that it will accominodate itself to various-sized drays, over the edge oi which the section ts in operation.

Near the end of thetrack to which the section is secured, which end is properly the forward or front end, is a pulley, T, around which the rope G passes, and returning is secured to the rear end of the truck.

When a lightload is on the truck,the operation may be expedited by securing the rope directly to the forward end of the track.

NVhen the track isl used on stairs, a piece, U, is placed under each side of the, rear end of the track, and thus prevents it from slipping when the device is in operation.

The truck having been advanced i to the limit of the track, the pieces VV are placed one on each side the said truck, the projecting piece XV resting on the stairs, the truck be-` ing allowed to settle back a little, the rollers K resting in a concavity, X, in an enlargment,

Y, at the end of the piece-V. The extended end of the pieceV passes under the truck and has its end rounded so that the wheel H will readily roll upon it. rIhis operation will raise the truck and secure it in position so that the track may be placed or advanced to a new Across the frame B is a piece, Z, against which the piano or other article rests. Then the track is slid between the rollers L and the platform A, the whole device will travel on thelarge rollers H.

By the arrangement'of parts it is evident that the operation of the device is independent oi' any foreign' body, the truck being moved by a rope attached tothe track on which it travels.

Having described the device, what I claim l. A piano or other truck consisting of' a truck proper having at one end a rigid up- IOC right frame and provided with langed rollers, in combination with a track having lianges on a level with its upper surface, the rollers traveling on or resting under the said flanges, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A piano or other truck consisting of a platform with an abutting frame raised on it at one end, said frame carrying a Windlass, in combination with a track on which the said truck travels, a rope or cable passing from the Windlass to the corresponding other end of the track.

3. In combination with a movable truck, a brace to rest under the lower end of said truck when on an incline, and consisting of a striphaving one end rounded and the other enlarged, and provided with a concavity and a right-angle extension on the side under the said enlargement, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

4. Atrucl; consisting of a carrying-platform having raised at one end a frame against which the object Vcarried abuts, said. frame forming the means of support for a windlass or other actuating means, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A truck having comparatively large rollers for moving it from place to place and a series'oi1 smaller rollers on a different vertical plane for moving it on a track. Y

6. A truck having a Windlass at one end and resting on rollers, in combination with a movable track having on each side a longitu- Adinal flange level with its upper side, and at one end a section of similar construction hinged to it and adjustable perpendicularly to the plane of said track by means of slotted strips pivoted to the track proper, and secured to the section by thumb or set screws passing through the said slots, the device being` operated by a rope or cable, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

In testimony whereof Iaiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 14th day of August, 1884:.

J. FRANK BARROVS.

Vitnesses: GEO. W. CHATTERTO'N, Jr., J oHN H. FREEMAN. 

